“I do.”
The waitress showed up and handed them menus. Matt ignored them and smiled at the older woman.
“Tell me about the pie,” he said. “It seems like a good night for pie.”
The waitress listed what was available. “The marionberry is the freshest,” she said. “Or the double-chocolate. Those are my favorites.”
“I’ll take the marionberry,” he told her. “Jess, you want a chocolate rush?”
“Sure.”
“Great. And two decafs, please.”
Jesse was pleased by the exchange. A month ago, Matt wouldn’t have spoken more than his order. He hadn’t understood the simple pleasure of connecting with someone for a few seconds. Now he seemed to move more easily in the world. She wanted to take credit, but she’d done nothing more than point out the obvious.
“You didn’t answer the sparkage question,” Jesse said, hoping they’d made out for hours. Maybe hearing about him falling for someone else would help her realize that he wasn’t for her.
“I kissed her, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“And?”
He shrugged. “It was okay.”
She held in a whimper as she tried not to think about what kissing Matt would be like. He had a great mouth and an attention to detail that was intriguing. Except it was never going to happen between them. Not only was he obviously not interested, but she liked him and liking him made a relationship impossible.
Every time she got involved, things went wrong. Somehow she managed to screw up everything. After a series of disasters, she’d given up on anything serious and settled for casual flings, although lately even they were losing their appeal. She liked Matt too much to risk destroying their friendship. Besides, now he had everything going for him so he would never be interested in her.
“There wasn’t chemistry,” he said. “I’m a guy and she was pretty, so sure, the kissing was nice, but there are degrees, you know? There’s nice and then there’s I-have-to-take-you-now. She was nice.”
Jesse felt a rush of heat. When was the last time he’d had an I-have-to-take-you-now experience? She desperately wanted to ask and didn’t want to know in equal measures.
“Maybe the next one will be better.”
“Maybe.” He looked up. “You remembered to turn off your cell. There haven’t been any calls from Ted or Butch or Spike.”
“I’ve never dated anyone named Butch.”
“What about Spike?”
She laughed. “Once.”
“I knew it.”
She touched her purse. “No calls. I’m between guys.”
In the past couple of weeks she’d ignored her ringing phone. She knew the reason. He was sitting across from her. She even knew what was different. She and Matt were friends. She’d never bothered with being friends before. Had never thought about more than the night. Now she found herself wondering…Talk about terrifying.
The waitress brought their coffee and pie, then left. Matt picked up his fork.
“I think I want something else,” he said, hesitantly.
“What do you mean? Different pie?”
“The dating. It’s okay, but every time it’s the same conversation. Getting to know each other, trying to remember if I’ve told that story or not. I want a second date.”
“You want a relationship,” Jesse said, telling her heart it could get pouty later. “That makes sense. So ask someone out a second time. If it’s good, ask her out again. That’s how dating turns into a relationship.”
“I haven’t met anyone who interests me that way. No one I feel comfortable just hanging out with.”
“Is that stupid?” he asked. “You don’t do relationships.”
“Which isn’t something to be proud of. You know what you want. That’s a good thing.” If only he could want her.
Time for a subject change. “Have you been looking at condos?” she asked.
“Just those first ones.”
“You’ve got to get your own place. It’s time. You’re never going to get laid if you don’t get your own place.”
He grinned. “Who says I haven’t gotten laid?”
There was a confidence in the question, sexy maleness in his voice. A sharp jab cut through Jesse. Jealousy burned hot and bright.
“You’re not going to get laid a lot,” she said, going for normal and hoping she didn’t fall short. “You need your own place.”
He looked at her. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“I was kidding. I haven’t slept with any of them.”
Thank God. “It would be okay if you had. You’re single, they’re single. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
He studied her, as if searching for something. Humiliation heated her cheeks, forcing her to duck her head so her hair hung down, shielding her. She didn’t want him to guess that she had feelings for him. He might pity her and that would be worse than anything.
“I’m a guy,” he said. “I don’t like shopping. Picking a condo is shopping on a grand scale. Come with me. That will make it easier.”
Easier for him, maybe. Not that she would say no. She wanted to spend time with him, to pretend that hey, sure, it could work out.
“Just tell me when.”
“YOU CAN SPEND MORE than this,” Jesse murmured as they walked through the empty tri-level town house in Redmond. “Get something on the water. A place with a view.”
“It’s too big,” Matt told her, ignoring her comment about price. “Three bedrooms. What do I need three bedrooms for?”
“One for you, one for an office, one for guests.”
“I don’t have guests.”
Good point. Because any women spending the night would be in his bed. “Then use the third bedroom as a media room.”
His eyes brightened. “Yeah?”
“Guys are so easy,” she murmured. “Yes. Cram it full of electronics. Make the walls vibrate. But if you’re going to do that, use the top-floor bedroom because it doesn’t have a common wall with anyone and you won’t annoy your neighbors.”
“Good point.”
They toured the kitchen, which was a good size and bright. “Nice appliances,” Jesse said, pointing at the stainless-steal cooktop. “Double ovens. That’s important.”
Matt looked at her. “For all those multi-course dinners I’m going to cook?”
“It could happen.”
They revisited the master.
“Nice shower,” she said, pointing to the frameless enclosure. “Big enough for two.”
“I heard that,” the real-estate agent said as she came into the room. “You’re such a lovely young couple. Are you engaged?”
Jesse had been looking at condos with Matt for the entire afternoon. She’d climbed countless stairs, pointed out pluses and minuses and seen several perfectly acceptable places. But would he pick one?
She was hungry, tired and both happy and frustrated by spending time with him without actually being
